Vending machine



Nov. 24, 1959' Filed Sept. '7, 1954 D. NEIDIG VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 D. NElDlG VENDING MACHINE Nov. Z4, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1954 INVENTOR.

NOV. 24, 1959 D, NEIDIG 2,914,215

VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. J CZ ZZ Magi/2% w N N N N \\\h\ :N\

Nov. 24, 1959 D. NElDlG VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Spt. 7, 1954 2,914,215 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 VENDING MACHINE Dan Neidig, New Albany, Ind., assig'nor to Superior Mfg. Co., Evanston, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 7, 1954, Serial No. 454,302

2 Claims. 01. 221-40 This invention relates to package-vending machines, including coin-controlled machines, and particularly for use in merchandising two differently shaped packages of chewing gum or other commodities.

Chewing gum, by way of example, is produced and sold most commonly in more than one form of package. Five or more flat elongated sticks superimposed in a folded and sealed wrapper constitutes one form and twelve pellets packaged in a shallow carton represents another form. Merchandising both packaged forms in the same vending machine presents a number of problems. Most conspicuous among these problems are such considerations as machine compactness for limited space installation, the ease of refilling, freedom of the working parts from the hazard of jamming or mutilating the packages, the security of the package-ejector from pilfering and the shutting down or locking against operation those ejectors whose supply of articles is exhausted. A further consideration is the assured dispensing of a single package selected and no others each time the dispenser is properly operated.

The main objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide an improved construction and operative relationship of magazine-storage dispensing mechansim for a coin-controlled vending machine suitable for merchandising several forms of packaged chewing gum; to provide in a vending machine of this kind an improved form and relative arrangement of several sizes of magazines, required for the several forms of packaged gum, designed to reduce to the very minimum the overall dimensions of a housing; to provide such an improved form and mounting of the magazines as to make extremely facile the filling and servicing thereof; to provide an improved form of package-ejector means which practically precludes all possibility of jamming and/or mutilating of packages; to provide improved means for locking against further operation each ejector means following the discharge of the last package of gum from the corresponding magazine; and to provide an improved gum-vending machine of this kind of such simple construction and arrangement of parts as to make its manufacture very economical and permit combining therewith a conventional-type coin-actuated control mechanism, pawl-and-ratchet means for preventing the return of an ejector means prior to its full manual actuation, andan ejector interlocking mechanism for precluding the manual operation of more than one ejector means at a time.

In the accompmying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional view, partly broken away intermediate the top and bottom, of animproved gumvending machine constructed in accordance with this invention, the parts being shown in their relative normal positions just prior to or after the insertion of a coin; except for one carton-ejector which is shown in its retractcd position preparatory to being released to eject a carton of pellets;

Fig. 2 is a transverse, horizontal, sectional view of the same taken on the plane of the line 2--2 of Fig. l,

1-1 indicating the plane whereon the sectional elevation of Fig. 1 is taken.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the two magazines and ejecting means in the process of dis charging a carton of pellets;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the positioning of the wrapped-package magazine about to discharge a package; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the two forms of magazines in position for filling;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded view of the knife edge'hinge of the magazine-mounting frame on the housing, the assembled view of which is indicated in the lower right hand corner of Figs. 1 and 5;

Fig. 7. is a perspective view of a wrapped package of gum which one portion of this improved vending machine is especially designed to dispense; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a carton of pellet gum which this improved vending machine also is designed to dispense,

The essential concept of this invention involves a plurality of differently-shaped magazines, two of which are shown by way of example, for respectively accommodating two shapes of packaged gum, separately hinged on a mounting frame rockably. supported within a housing for swinging between an upright working position and a forwardly extended package-filling position, the magazines having associated therewith spring-actuated, manually-operableejector means for discharging the packages during the spring-returned movement of the ejector means, with one magazine swinging into the discharge area of the other magazine so that both shapes of packages can be dis-charged in the same space and each magazine containing a weighted follower which locks its associated ejector means when the last package of gum is discharged from the respective magazines. 7

A vending machine embodying the foregoing concept comprises a housing A wherein is swingably arranged a mounting frame B for the pairs of package magazines C and D and the spring-actuated, manually-operable ejector mechanism E, the functioning of individual parts of which is rendered inoperative by a locking means F when the last package is discharged from the respective magazines, all in association with a conventional coinactuated control mechanism G, a pawl and ratchet ejectorbar arresting means H, and an ejector interlock device I. The housing A is of a more of less conventional form and construction for use with this improved type of dispensing mechanism. However, the housing A, for this improved vending machine, is much more compact than are housings of prior mechanisms for dispensing two forms of packaged gum, i.e. wrapped sticks and pellet cartons. Such housing A, only fragmentarily shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises a base 11, upright back 12, sides 13, and a front or door 14 vertically hinged 'to swing sideways in a horizontal direction to conceal, in its closed position, or to fully expose for access, in its open position, the above-noted mechanisms and means, as occasion may require.

As is obvious from the several figures in the drawings, the housing sides 13 are recessed rearwardly from a point above the ejector mechanism E, to the top 15 which is formed with an integral, depending and forwardly-extending angle-flange 16 in and against which'a flange 17 on the front 14 snugly abuts when the front 14 is in its closed position (Fig. 1).

n The mounting frame B is of a U-shape cross-section at the bottom having a frame back 19 with a highback portion 18' (Fig. 5) and low parallel side legparts 18' extending preferably only to a point above the ejector mechanism E and being but little less in depth than the front-to-back inside dimension of the housing A, so

, that in its normal position within the housing A the frame back 19 is disposedclosely parallel to the housing back 12. This mounting frame B is rockably supported on the housing base 11, at the lower front edge, by a conventional-knife edge hinge 21 (Figs. 1 and including an angle bar 22 secured to the housingbase 11 adjacent the-front edge thereof.

Transversely of the frame B, intermediate the parallel legs 18 and below the magazines C and D and'the ejector mechanism E, are arranged a pair of spaced, inclined plates 23 and 24. These constitute a chute 26 leading from the magazines C and D to a housing opening 27 through which packages are extracted once they are released from the magazines C and D. A plate 28, horizontally-disposed. extends from the inner top edge of the plate 23to the forward edges of the frame legs 18 and serves as a support forparts of the ejector mechanism E, as presently will be pointed out.

The two pairs of magazines C and D are additionally swingably mounted within-the mounting frame B, one on a yoke 29 and the other on a rod 31, to occupy normally upright positions closely adjacent each other in the upper part of the mounting frame B at opposite sides ofthe chute 26. Each magazine is of a C-shape cross-section and open at both the top and bottom.

The magazines C are for dispensing the carton form of packaged pellets. These magazines are shown here of two different sizes. The pair are suitably bonded together, in side by side relationship, and secured to the yoke 29. This yoke 29 is hinged at 32, near the top forward edge of the front-to-rear wider portion of the frame legs 18 (Figs. 1-5). Such hinging permits these magazines to swing between an upright, packagedispensing position, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and a nearly-horizontal, package-filling position as shown in Fig. 5. Stops 33, near the upper forward corners of the frame legs 18, limit the forward swinging of the yoke 29. Stops 34, on the backs of the respective magazines, contact the frame B and limit the rearward swinging of the magazines so as to properly position them in relationship to the ejector mechanism E.

At their lower ends. the sides of the magazine's C are. bent inwardly to provide aligned ledges 36, spaced from each other below the open bottom. These coact to catch and temporarily support the stacks of packages-in the respective magazines when the ejector mechanism E is 4 retracted preparatory to discharging a selected package, as presently will be pointed out in further detail.

The magazines D are for dispensing the wrapped stick packages. These magazines are pivoted at their tops on the rod 31,, spanning the narrow upper end of the mounting frame B,-by the respective yokes 37 and 37 secured adjacent the upper back faces of the respective magazines. Each magazine D thus swings as a unit" forwardly and backwardly at the bottom, as effectedby the ejector mechanism E, to successively discharge packages from such magazines, as will presently. be explained also more fully. At the lower ends of the sides of each of the magazines D-are formed aligned ledges 38 spacedfrom each other below the open bottom. These coact to catch and temporarily support the stacks of packages when the respective ejector mechanism E is retracted preparatory to the discharge ofa package.

The ejector mechanism E comprises pairs of' brackets 39- and 40, for the'respective magazines C and D, a spring-actuatedoperating-rod 41, and manually-operable retracting bars 42, one each for the magazines C and D.

The brackets 39, one for each of the magazines C, are secured to the forward ends of the respective retracting bars 42 to reciprocate back and forth under the magazines C between the ledges 36. In their normal forward positions (Figs. 3 and 4) the brackets 39 support the stacks of carton packages in the magazines C.- Afterbeing; retractedas will be explained presently-their spring-actuated return to such normal position effects the discharge of: the lowermost package temporarily resting on the ledges 36 (Fig. 1) by pushing it from its resting position.

The brackets 40, somewhat Z-shape, are secured to the back 19 of the mounting frame B to be disposed under the open lower ends of the respective magazines D, when the magazines are in their normally-retracted positions, to support the stacks of wrapped stick packages. These brackets 40 also are so positioned on the frame back 19 that they will engage and discharge the lowermost package. from the respective magazines D during the spring-actuated return thereof from the advanced positions into which they are shiftedby the manuallyoperable andretracting bar 42" (Fig. 4).

To effect such back and forth swinging of the magazines D, the two outside retracting bars 42 (Fig. 2) are connected by links 43 to the respective magazines.

The spring-actuated ejector-return rod 41 is a conventional arrangement for vending machines of this kind, as clearly will be apparent from applicant's copending application Serial No. 387,827, filed October 23, 1953, now Patent No. 2,858,001, issued October 28, 1958. The rod 41 is reciprocatingly mounted below the plate 28 (Fig. 1) to engage a depending finger 44 on each of the retractive bars 42 and moving in its respective slot 45 in the plate 28. A spring 46, at each side of the mounting frame B, connects a link 47, on the end of the rod 41, with a pin 48, adjacent the back of the mounting frame B.

The locking means F, for the ejector mechanism E when a magazine is empty, comprises a follower 49 foreach of the respective magazines C and D. Each follower is formed with a pin 51 positioned for engagement with an aperture 52 in the respective brackets 39 and 40 (Figs. 1 and 2).

The follower 49 is a flat element oppositely flanged along the parallel edges. The flanges 53 extend downwardly, when the follower 49 is in functioning position in a magazine, so as to rest on the topmost package in the stack. The upwardly-extending flanges 54 contact the sides of the magazine and are of a height greater than the thickness of the wrapped packages so as to insure the retention of the follower in the respective magazine when the follower is resting on the respective bracket 39 or 40'after the discharge of the last package from the magazine.

The pin 51 depends from the under face of the follower 49 to enter the respective bracketaperture 52 and preclude any further manual manipulation of the respective retractor bar 42.

Associated with the foregoing construction is a con ventional coin-actuated control mechanism G. The probable position of such a mechanism is indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2. The details of such a mechanism are fully set forth in the aforesaid copending application Serial No. 387,827, reference to which is' hereby made.

A pawl-and-ratchet means H for preventing a return of the manually-operable retractor bars 42, once movement thereof has been initiated, is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. This is a more or less conventional mechanism, the detailed character of which is set forth in the abovementioned copending application. As here shown it comprises a two-way pawl 56 positioned adjacent each bar 42' and actuated by a spring 58 for coaction with ratchet teeth 57 formed on the respective bar 42. Once engaged the pawl prevents retraction until movement in the direction started is completed, both forward and back.

An ejector-bar interlock device! (Fig. 1), also is associated with. the above-described improved dispensing mechanism.- A conventional shufiie lock type of such devicealso is set forth quite fully in the above-mentioned copending application. It operates to lock the three other retractor bars 42when one'ofthem has been manually retracted.

The operation of this improved vending machine is as follows:

Filling of the magazines C and D is effected by first swinging the unlocked, hinged front 14 to its open position. This permits the mounting frame B to be rocked on the knife hinge 21 into an inclined position forwardly of the housing A. The upper end of the mounting frame B in such a position is indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 1 and in full outline in Fig. 5. The frame B, with its mounted magazines C and D and the ejector mechanism E, is held in such a forwardly-inclined position by a finger 59 swivelled on the rear upper edge of the frame B. With the frame B in such a position, the magazines C are swung forwardly on the hinge 32. into a nearly-horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 5. So positioned the followers 49 are removed, all of the mag azines C and D are filled with the appropriate packages of gum, and the followers returned.

Once filled, the magazines C are swung back into their normal upright positions on the frame B, as arrested by the shoulders 34 contacting the edges of the frame legs 18. Upon retracting the finger 59, the frame 6 may be rocked back into its normal position in the housing A and the front 14 closed and locked to prevent unauthorized access to the contents of the machine.

When it is desired to dispense a package of gum from the machine, and an appropriate coin has been placed into the coin-actuated control mechanism G, that one of the bars 42 which is selected is pulled out. This pulling out of a bar 42 effects a relative shifting of the respective bracket 39 or 40 and the corresponding magazine C or D. Thereupon, the stack of packages in the respective magazine drops down to temporarily rest the lowermost package on the ledges 36 or 38.

The retracting of the bar 42 also shifts the rod 41 and tensions the spring 46. Moreover, as the selected bar 42 starts its rearward movement the corresponding pawl 56 engages the ratchet teeth 57 and prevents a return of the bar 42 until it has been pulled out its full distance. Incidentally, initiation of the movement of a bar 42 actuates the interlock device I to immobilize the other three bars 42, until the retracted bar 42 has returned to its resting position.

The release of the selected bar 42 permits the springs 46 acting on the rod 41 to press against the respective finger 44 and initiate the return of the bracket 39 or the magazine D to its resting position; meanwhile having effected a discharge of the lowermost package in the magazine C or D.

To be more specific, assuming a package of pellets is desired, one of the inner bars 42 is retracted; pulled out the full permissible distance. The corresponding bracket 39 for a magazine C is thereupon retracted into the position shown in Fig. l. The stack of packages in that magazine C settles down onto the ledges 36. The springs 46 are tensioned. Upon release of the bar 42 the springs 46 cause the rod 41 to shift the bracket 39 rearwardly in the machine toward its normal packagesupporting position as shown in Fig. 3. Such return movement of the bracket 3 dislodges the lowermost package from the respective magazine C. The package drops into the chute 26 and slides down toward the opening 27.

On the other hand, if one desires a package of wrapped sticks from a magazine D, one pulls one of the outside bars 42 (Fig. 2). This effects a forward swinging of the respective magazine D into its advanced position, as

shown in Fig. 4. The stack of packages settles down onto the ledges 38. The release of the bar 42 permits the springs 46, acting on the rod 41 engaging the respective finger 44 and acting through the link 43, to swing the magazine D back into its normally-retracted position. Such a return movement of the magazine D causes the bracket 40 to dislodge the lowermost package from the corresponding ledges 38. The package drops into the chute 26 and slides down toward the opening 27.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated how the objects stated are fulfilled and the novel results accomplished, and how various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vending machine structure of the character described, a housing defining a compartment therein and having an access opening equipped with a closure panel therefor, a mounting frame pivotally supported adjacent the lower forward end thereof for movement between a retracted position completely within said compartment and an outer position wherein the upper end thereof extends through said access opening, a plurality of open topped package storage magazines pivotally carried by said frame, means provided by each of said magazines adjacent the lower end thereof for supporting a stack of packages therein, a chute provided by said frame adjacent the lower ends of said magazines for receiving packages ejected therefrom, said housing having a discharge opening in communication with said chute to permit removal of ejected packages therefrom, and a plurality of ejection means respectively associated with said magazines, at least certain of said ejection means comprising a reciprocable bar connected with the magazine associated therewith to swing the lower end thereof between forward and rearward positions, said last mentioned ejection means comprising also a pusher support receivable within its magazine when the same is in its rearward position to support a stack of packages therein and being aligned with the lowermost package in a stack during rearward movement of the magazine to eject such lowermost package therefrom, a rocker bar supported by said housing adjacent the forward lower end thereof, said frame having a notch receiving said rocker bar therein, said rocker bar and notch defining the pivotal support for said frame with respect to the housing.

2. The vending machine of claim 1 in which said pusher support is provided with an aperture therein, and in which the magazine associated therewith is provided with a finger-equipped rider slidably movable therethrough, said finger being receivable within said aperture when the magazine is empty to constrain movement thereof and thereby inactivate said ejection means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 435,370 Stevens Aug. 26, 1890 730,624 Elliott June 9, 1903 782,430 Tone Feb. 14, 1905 2,267,144 Steiner Dec. 23, 1941 2,316,315 Casey Apr. 13, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 31,646 Sweden Oct. 7, 1911 819,902 Germany Sept. 20, 1951 

